You Don't Have to Be a Rockefeller To Collect Art:

The Vogels are a New York City couple who took collecting to the next level. Herbert Vogel, a U.S. Postal Service employee, and his wife, Dorothy, a reference librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, were so passionate about art that they lived solely on Dorothy's salary and used Herbert's for their art purchases. Over the course of 40 years, the couple assembled a collection of more than 4,000 works of art. They bought what they loved and only had two rules for their purchases: the work had to be affordable and it had to fit in their tiny one-bedroom apartment. Their collection included works by Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, and Chuck Close. Documentary filmmaker, Megumi Sasaki is telling their story. Here's a clip.

Collecting art for your home is has always been a major topic for discussion on Apartment Therapy. We all know that original art can give your space personality and warmth. The title for this post was taken from the tagline for Herb and Dorothy, the upcoming documentary about the couple, now 92 and 80, who despite their modest means assembled an amazing collection of minimal and conceptual art. After donating a huge chunk of the collection to the National Gallery of Art, in 1992, they have decided to spread their collection across the United States. They've selected 50 institutions in each of the 50 states to receive 50 works of art. Although many of the works they acquired at modest prices had appreciated so significantly that their collection was worth several million dollars, the Vogels never sold a single piece.

We can't wait to see the entire film! The New York City premier is June 5 at Cinema Village. (Screening in other cities here.)

Learn more about the Vogel's project to donate their art to institutions around the country.